Winding machine



Oct. 31, 1939. E. J. ABBOTT El AL WINDING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 In verztors; Edward :[A bbott, :[asepia 17. Fizz fily/ Oct. 31, 1939. E. J. ABBOTT :1- m.

WINDING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 I72 verztons',

Edward JAZaLC,

Oct. 31, 1939. E. 'J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,177,763

WINDING MACHINE Filed'May 19, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I72 velz tors, Edward r/TA bbott,

Atlfys.

Oct. 31, 1939. E. J ABBOTT El AL 2.177.763

WINDING MACHINE Filed May 19,1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventors, Edward JIA fibatt,

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Oct. 31, 1939. E. J. ABBOTT -r AL 2,177,763

WINDING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z92 aerztvns; Edward rIA bat,

Oct. 31, 1939. E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2.117.753

WINDING MACHINE In van twzs'; Edboazd :[A 212mm, I

Oct. 31, 1939. E J ABBOTT :r m.

WINDING MACHINE Filed May 19. 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 a 5 flwmwf wAR v JEM JMMW 6 wJ MW Oct. 31, 1939. E. J, ABBOTT ET AL 2,177,763

WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 19, 1934 Oct. 31, 1939. E. .1 ABBOTT ET AL WINDING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 fiveiztor Edward J}? (7606i,

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Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING MACHINE Application May 19, 1934, Serial No. 726,524

4'7 Claims.

This invention relatesto textile machines and is especially concerned with winding machines or other machines adapted to perform a winding operation and in certain aspects to machines 5 which handle a running strand coming from a wound or otherwise prepared supply mass.

Among the principal objects of the invention are to provide improved mechanism for the repair of a running strand, improved mechanism for removing imperfections in running strands, improved mechanism for replenishing the supply of strand-manipulating machines, and further to accomplish these results in respect to a multiple machine, such for example as a multiple winding machine wherein many separate strands are individually handled. One important object of the invention is so to improve, combine and coordinate the actions of imperfection-removing and supply-replenishing mechanisms that these mechanisms can serve a large number of winding units without introducing undesired complications of operation, thereby minimizing the investment cost of the machine and hence the cost of the product. Other objects of invention will be apparent from this specification and its drawings wherein the invention is explained by way of example by the description of a preferred embodiment oi its several features.

This preferred embodiment is in the form of a multiple unit winding machine having mechanism adapted automatically to repair any strand in which an imperfection is found, for the purpose of removing the imperfection, and to unite a new or replenishment strand to the winding package on any unit of which the old supply strand is no longer available for uniting to the winding package. A preferred and important feature of the invention provides for the removal of imperfections and repair of the winding 40 strands without dotting the supply masses, and a further feature provides for so controlling the various lnstrumentalitles of the machine as to cause the several winding units of the machine to be dealt with individually in diiferent manners appropriate to different conditions of their respective supply strands.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical sectlon, showing the present invention applied to a multiple spindle winding machine of the general type shown in the application of Edward J. Abbott, Serial No. 476,776, filed August 21, 1930, now Pate nt No. 2,135,485, portions of the maga- 55 due h lm: broken away in this view;

Fig. 2 is 'a left end elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of certain of the mechanisms of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view, to a larger scale than Fig. 3, with certain parts broken away to expose other parts;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, with certain parts shown in side elevation;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in the form of a horizontal section on the line Ii5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a left side elevation of strand-detecting mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of the detecting mechanism of Fig. '7 to the strand of a unit of the winding machine with which the detecting mechanism is cooperating;

Fig. 9 is a view taken from the left of Fig. 7, showing the feeler fingers of the detecting mechanism in inactive positions;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the manner in which the detecting mechanism responds to the occurrence of a strand between the feeler fingers;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on the line I l| I ,1

of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view, in plan, of the feeler fingers when inactive;

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing how the movement of the fingers is checked when a strand is between them;

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing how the fingers can intermesh when no strand is present;

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of switch mechanism adapted to be actuated by the successive units of the machine;

Fig. 16 is a left side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the mechanism of Fig. 15, also showing the manner in which it is actuated;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line l'I--I'l of Fig. 15; i

Fig. 18, on the same sheet as Fig. 2, is a diagram of electrical connections for controlling and coordinating the operation of several elements of the machine;

Fig. 19, on the same sheet as Fig. 1, is a fragmentary side elevation showing in detail certain package-lifting and lowering mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view, with certain parts omitted, taken at 180 from Fig. 2, and

In many instances it may be satisfactory or desirable to employ less than all of the features of invention now to be described, and in particular the construction of the machine with which these features are employed may be materially altered. The invention can therefore best be explained by referring first to the general construction and mode of operation of a winding machine with which the invention is shown as cooperating, and then referring in order to various cooperating features of invention.

Although many featues of the present invention are adapted for application to single winding units, fuller applicability of the invention can be illustrated by reference to a multiple unit winding machine, and to, some form of means for associating the devices of the invention with the several units of the machine in succession. Such winding machine and associating means preferably utilizes the winding and traveling mechanism of the patent to Edward J. Abbott, No. 1,609,639, the reissue patent to Abbott et al. No. 18,310 and the application of Edward J. Abbott, Serial No. 476,776, flied August 21, 1930. Thus Figs. 1 and 2 show by way of example a multiple winding machine having upper and lower guide rails 2!, 21 along which winding carriers 22 are conveyed by an endless chain 23. Each carrier 22 is flexibly connected to the chain to adapt it to pass the semi-circular ends of the machine, of which the left end is shown in Fig. 1. Near the lower portion of each carrier a suitable holder for an unwinding supply mass may comprise a peg 2i, mounted on a bent plate 25 (Fig. 2), the plate 25 being fast on a short rotatably mounted horizontahshaft 21, carrying on the rear side of the carrier a suitable arm 28 which strikes a stationary stop member in the form of a cam III to invert the peg 2| for doifing. On the upper part of the carrier 22, the strand from the supply mass M (Fig. 1) may pass between tension disks 30, preferably constructed to open easily, as disclosed in the application of Edward J. Abbott, Serial No. 491,705, filed October 28, 1930, now Patent No. 1,965,363, and then pass through a slub-catcher l I, preferably constructed as claimed in the patent to Abbott, No. 1,905,259. This slub-catcher functions to induce breakage of the running strand upon the occurrence of an imperfection, and may be considered as illustrative of a wide variety of devices or mechanisms for such purpose. Near the winding package P. on which the strand is wound, the strand passes over a suitable pivoted wire bail 32, which, as disclosed in application Serial No. 476,776, is adapted to rise upon breakage or exhaustion of the strand and induce operation of suitable winding stopping mechanism.

The winding package 1? of each unit is shown as held on a spindle 35 mounted on an arm 36, which is pivoted at 31 to the head of the unit. Suitable driving means for the numerous winding packages may comprise longitudinal driven tractor rolls extending along the opposite straight portons of the frame, one such roll being indicated at 40 in Fig. 1, the end bearing 42 therefor being shown in Fig. 2. In winding conical packages, the spindle 35 or its equivalent is tilted, to cause the conical surface of the package to rest on the roll 40, as indicated for the righthand package in Fig. 1. Suitable traverse mechanism may include, on each unit, a traverse cam 63, equipped with tires 44 driven by contact with the tractor rolls III, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Winding stopping mechanism on each unit may comprise means for lifting the winding package from the tractor roll 40 whenever the wire ball 32 rises on account of breakage or exhaustion of the strand- As disclosed in application Serial No.476,776, a lower extension 32 of the pivoted wire ball 32 is preferably connected by a link 49 to a pawl 49 pivoted to the cam follower element 50 at the rear end of a. horizontal shaft i. The opposite or front end of this shaft 5| carries a crank arm 52 at the end of which is mounted a lifter rod 53, connected to the package-carrying arm 36. When the upper part of the pivoted wire ball 32 is depressed by the running strand and the lower extension 32 of the bail swung out, the pawl 49 is held in an inclined position clear of a series of short pins 51 on the upper rail 20. Rising of. the bail 32 alldlws its lower extension 32" to swing in, and permits the pawl 49 to drop into contact with the next pin 51 it meets, the relative movement between the pin and pawl then turning the shaft 5| and raising the package P away from its drive roll. Parts of this same mechanism are also adapted to stop winding just before the unit reaches the end of its tractor roll, by the provision of a long pin 58 (Fig. 1) at this point adapted to contact with the pawl 49 even when the latter is held outwardly by the action of the wire bail 32. Thus each package P will in turn be lifted to the position of the left-hand one of the packages P in Fig. 1, either by the action of the long pin 58, or by the action of one of the shorter pins 51. In addition, parts of such stopping and lifting mechanism can serve to lower the package P to the level of the tractor roll, by engagement of cam follower element 50 with a stationary lowering cam 6| on the guide rail 2|), the action of these parts being to pull the lifter rod 53 down. Such lowering cams 6| are located at the points where the units are to attain driving contact with the tractor rolls to start winding, and an extra one of such cams BI is preferably employed, as subsequently described, to lower the package P into contact with end-finding mechanism.

The traveling winding machine illustrated herewith difiers notably from the machine disclosed in said Patent Nos. 1,609,639, Reissue 18,310' and application Serial No. 476,776 in that the driving connections for the chain 23 move the latter and the winding units toward the left as viewed from the side and as indicated by the arrow 1:, Fig.1, or clockwise as viewed in plan, and that the winding package spindles 35 have their free ends similarly directed, which very materially facilitates the dofling of a full package and the placing of a new core on the spindle by a right-handed operator, as the units travel past her. This new mode of operation is especially helpful in case the operator is to place on the spindle a new core containing a starting winding, find the end on the starting winding, and tie it to the supply strand, in which case the core should be put on by the operator's left hand, the end found by the right hand, and immediately placed with the supply end in the knotter which the operator wears on her left hand.

For explanation of the accomplishment of the Magazine and supply mass replenishing mechanism 0 Since it will usually be desirable to provide for delivering replenishment strand masses to the several winding units following the domng of supply masses, as by the action of doihng cam Ill, there is preferably provided a magazine I i adapted to be associated with the supply holders of the several units in succession by the relative movement between the magazine and the several units. The magazine II is preferably in the form of a circular series of vertical containers I2, each adapted to hold a replenishment strand mass R, these containers 12 being fastened to a pair of circular plates 13, II (Fig. 5) which surround a central vertical pipe I8.

The plate H rests upon a constantly rotating disk 'II provided with a collar 'IiI which bears upon a collar 19 fixed on the central pipe I6. Suspended by spacing members BI from the rotating disk 11 is a ring with its periphery formed into a worm gear 82 meshing with a worm 83, which latter element is driven by a pulley 84, (Fig. l) belt 85, pulley 86, from a motor 89. Such driving of the disk 11 tends to turn the magazine, and to control this turning the upper plate I3 is provided with a circular series of stop pegs 9| (Fig. 5) corresponding in number to the number of containers I2, and each adapted to be intercepted by the lowered armature 92 of a solenoid 93. Energizing the solenoid for an instant thus raises the armature 92, releases the magazine, and allows it to turn through the angle represented by one container I2, whereupon the next stop peg Si is caught by the then lowered armature 92.

For holding and releasing the replenishment masses, the bottom which supports the mass in each container is in the form of a trap door 85, hinged at 96 to the plate I4, and normally held closed by a circular strip 98. At the delivery point of the magazine, which in the illustrated machine is approximately where the paths of the containers 12 and the traveling supply-holding pegs 24 are nearest, the strip 98 terminates, allowing the bottom trap door 95 of a container to open and discharge the replenishment mass. Farther along, as shown in Fig. 2, the strip 98 begins again with a bent cam-like portion 99 adapted to swing the successive trap doors 85 closed.

For compactness and convenience of construction of the winding units, the magazine is somewhat offset from the path of the passing supplyholding pegs 24. To guide the delivered replenishment masses onto the pegs, a chute IBI adapted to receive the mass, is pivotally mounted at I02 to tilt under the weight of the replenishment mass so as to align the central hole of the bobbin or other core of the mass with the peg 24 of the passing unit. A suitable weight Ill! returns the chute to the position of Fig. 2 after such delivery of the mass to the supply holding peg. The chute is further pivoted at I, I to permit it to be swung out of the path of the bobbin placed on pin It. A finger III at the lower end of the chute is adapted to be engaged by the pin ll to maintain the chute and pin aligned during passage of the pin.

To permit a united strand of the replenishment mass to leave the magazine at the time the mass is delivered to the s pply holder of a unit, as more fully d bed hereinafter, the magazine has each of its containers laterally open, as by the provision of a slit I.

Further to cooperate with strand-uniting mechanism, a central holding means is provided for the ends of strands in the several containers of the magazine. Preferably the central pipe I8 is connected at its bottom to a suitable suction device, and is open at the level of the magazine top to receive and hold the several ends. Such opening may conveniently be the space llll between the central pipe I6 and a smaller communicating conduit I08 separated therefrom by a strip I09. As indicated in Fig. 4 the several ends R of replenishment strands are held taut by the suction in conduit I6, and therefore move in spaced relation toward the delivery point of the magazine as the magazine turns.

Package end-finding mechanism, and associated mechanism for handling the found end In removing imperfections in the running strands of the units, we prefer, from a standpoint of winding speed and of simplicity of construction, to induce breakage in the strand, allow one of the broken ends to wind on the package, and subsequently find that end on the package and unite one of the broken ends to the other at a point beyond the imperfection. The slub-catcher 3| of each unit is well adapted to induce such breakage. In addition, certain undesired accidental breakage may occur, and in the normal operation of the machine the supply masses will exhaust at frequent intervals. The end-finding and associating mechanism now to be described is therefore preferably constructed to be useful in any of these contingencies, whether the found package end is to be united to the old supply strand or to a replenishment strand,

A small diameter unwinding tractor roll III is preferably disposed in prolongation of the winding tractor roll 40, one end being conveniently mounted in the casing of the tractor roll bearing 42 (Fig. 2) and the other end held by a suitable support illl. As indicated in Fig. 3 suitable driving means for this unwinding roll may include a belt H9, pulley Ill, shaft H5 and a worm gear IIG meshing with a worm II! on a transverse shaft II8 which is geared to the two longitudinal tractor rolls III of the machine. One important advantage in having the unwinding roll III disposed horizontally in prolongation of a winding roll is that a conical package wound on the winding roll II can rest squarely upon the unwinding roll when swung down onto it.

A stationary lowering cam BI, such as described above, is located on the upper rail 20 (Fig. l) in position to cause the successive packages to be lowered onto this unwinding roll I I I, and near the end of this roll III, a long pin 58', similar to the pins 58 described above, is positioned to cause the successive packages to be returned to their raised positions. This cam SI and pin 58' operate in conjunction with the package-lifting and lowering mechanism of each unit in the same manner as the other similar cams GI and pins 58 used to lower and lift the packages to and from the winding tractor rolls lll.

During its passage along the roll I It the package, rotated in an unwinding direction, is subiected to suction by an elongated nozzle I II. The nozzle H2 tapers into a narrow slit H3 in the suction conduit which extends in a curved path to and down into the mouth of the outer suction pipe 18, the conduit I thus providing a means strand and operated on by strandqmiting mechanism. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 a horizontal curved wire H5 supported from beneath the magazine is adapted to hold the found package strand out of engagement with the containers 12 for the replenishment masses R in the magazine. When thus found and carried away from the moving package P, the end of strand P is in position to be associated with the held end of strand R of one of the replenishment masses R in the magazine, as the replenishment strand is moved about the central holding pipe I6. Alternatively, the found end of a strand P can be associated with an end of the supply strand of its respective winding unit, which supply strand can be brought to the package strand by means now to be described.

Mechanism for handling the supply strand A preferred construction of means for carrying the supply strand of any winding unit into position to be associated with the package strand of that unit, is shown as comprising a branch I38 of the conduit IIIB, having a slot II3 running its full length and communicating with the slot H3 in conduit I33. Referring to Fig. 2, this branch IIIB terminates in an open nozzle or mouth I23 in close proximity to the supply strands of a passing unit, at a point immediately below the slubcatcher 3| thereof. Thus the supply strand held at the slub-catcher 3| of a unit is pulled by suction out of the slab-catcher and into the branch conduit I38, and from thence into the main conduit I38, the slot H3 in the branch conduit and slot H3 in the main conduit permitting a portion of the strand to extend free of these conduits and lie over the top of the magazine, preferably on the same wire I I5 as the found package strand P. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the slot I I3 in the branch conduit I08 is somewhat toward the side from which the traveling units leave this branch conduit, so as to permit the strand to leave the branch conduit laterally as the unit passes.

Strand-uniting mechanism Provision of the magazine II contemplates the joining of a replenishment strand to the strand already on a traveling winding unit, while provision of the branch tube I33 and cooperating parts of tube I33 contemplates the joining of the strand which is already on the unit to itself, in such a way as to remove an imperfection from the strand. Preferably for both of these purposes, a single uniting mechanism is employed, shown in Figs. 4 and 5 as comprising a usual knotter I22 of which the main operative parts may be similar to those of United States Patent No. 755,110.

A suitable bracket I23 may serve to support the knotter from the pipe It in the position indicated wherein the tying bill I24 and lateral hooks I25 and I26 extend somewhat above the tops of the containers I2 and pipe IS. AS will be observed from Figs. 4 and 5, the knotter is mounted in an inclined position with the axis of the rotary tying bill at about 45 from the vertical. In case the magazine rotates through the angle represented by one container 12, a replenishment strand R is thereby carried up over the curved swingable stripper arm I2Ii of the knotter until caught by the hook I26 at the end of this arm, by the hook I25 and by the knotter bill l2l. As a found package strand P is pulled out of the slot H3, a wire Ill extending down from conduit I33 guides this package strand into a similar position in the knotter. the replenishment strand R and package strand P thus being assembled for uniting.

If instead of a replenishment strand R being brought into the knotter as described, a supply strand S is carried up onto the wire I I 5 by the slotted conduit I08, travel of the winding unit swings this supply strand S along the wire II 5 and into the knotter beside the package strand P, thus assembling these strands for uniting.

On the main shaft I28 of the knotter there is provided a lever arm I29, connected by a link I30, to the armature I3I of a solenoid I32. Normally, when the solenoid is deenergized, this armature I3I is kept raised by means of a spring I33, which acts on a dashpot piston I34, connected to the armature by a rod I35." Energizing the solenoid for an instant pulls down the armature I3I, and operatesthe knotter to unite the strands and cut off their ends, whereupon the spring I33 restores the knotter to its position of Fig. 5. The dashpot somewhat retards the movement of the knotter, to give a smoother action. Upon the severance of the united strands by the tying bill, the severed ends are free to be pulled down into the pipe I6 by the suction therein.

As soon as united by the knotter I22, two thicknesses of strand from a winding unit are free to leave the vicinity of the uniting mechanism as the unit travels. In the case of uniting a package strand P to a replenishment strand R from the magazine, the magazine is caused to discharge the tied-in replenishment mass R to the winding unit by the appropriate trap-door opening, and in such case the slot IIIB in the side of the container 12 provides an exit for the united strand.

As the mass R is discharged from the magazine, the fall of this mass to the bobbin peg 24 aids in taking up the slack in the united strand.

Mechanism for detecting the presence of a supply strand and for controlling the dofllna and replenishment accordingly As the several units of the winding machine are presented to the parts associated with the stranduniting mechanism, the supply strand of any unit either (1) may be totally absent (in case the winding operation has proceeded continuously to complete exhaustion of the supply mass) or (2) may be lodged in the slub-catcher 3I or whatever substitute is provided for holding the strand (in case the winding operationhas been interrupted by the occurrence of an imperfection of the strand) or (3) in fewer instances, may be broken off directly at the supply mass. In cases (1) and (3) above, the supply strand is unavailable for immediate uniting to the strand of the package for continued winding, and it is desirable to doif the supply mass or its core if it has one. In case (2) above, it is desirable to unite the strand while the supply mass remains on the unit, without doffing.

Suitable means for controlling the doifing of supply masses or their cores in this manner may include the detecting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 this mechanism is conveniently mounted on a bracket I35 attached to the lower rail 2| at a point following the end of the winding tractor roll 43 and in advance of the dofllng cam III, so as to operate on the supply strands of successive unitsat the end of winding and before cloning. Referring to Figs. 7 to 14, the illustrated detecting mechanism includes two sets of spaced fingers I 36 and I31 mounted on parallel hubs I33 and I33 respectively, and adapted to swing from the position of Figs. 1 and 8 to a position such as shown in Fig. 8 where they engage a supply strand 8' in the passing unit. As indicated in Fig. 14,- the two sets of fingers can intermesh and pass each other when their swinging motion is not intercepted by a supply strand S between them.

A support I48 at the lower part of bracket I85 has pivotally mounted thereon at I4I an arm I42 having at one end. a cam-follower surface I48 (Fig. 11) adapted to engage the lower guide rollers I44 of passing'units, and at its other end a segment gear I48, meshing with a pinion I41, fast on a vertical shaft I48. A spring I48 urges the arm I42 in the direction of the arrow vZ in Fig. 11, whereas a passing winding unit moves the arm in the opposite direction, resulting in turning the shaft I48 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 11. This shaft I48 passes loosely through hub I88 and is mounted above and below this hub in brackets I52 and I58. A gear I54 on-shaft I48 meshes with a similar gear I55 on a short shaft I58 which extends loosely through hub I88. Fast on shafts I48 and I58 respectively are pins I51 and I58 (Fig. 10) which extend through curved cam slots I58 and I88 inthe hubs I88 and I88. Ordinarily these pins I51 and I58 occupy the upper ends of these slots I58 and I88, as in Fig. '1, and in this position rotation of shaft I48 by a passing unit results in swinging the sets of fingers toward and past each other if no strand 6' intervenes. When a strand 8' is present, extending from the supply mass 8 to the club-catcher H, the swinging movement of the fingers is checked at the position of Fig.

13, whereupon further rotation of shafts I48 and I58 causes the pins I51 and I58 to act on the cam slots I58 and I88, and raise the hubs I88 and I88 to the position of Fig. 18. A plate I82,'resting on these hubs, is thereby raised, raising a rod I88. A normally open mercury switch I85, normally held in the position of Fig. 8 by a weighted arm I88, is tilted by the action of rod I88 on arm I88 into the position of Fig. 10, closing a circuit, when this arm I88 rises as a result of the detection of a supply strand 8' on the passing unit. Stop members I81 and I88, in the form of bent wires, are positioned to check the return movement of the fingers which are released when i the winding unit has passed.

Referring to Fig. 2, the dofiing cam 18 is pivotally mounted at I18 at its top, and carries on its rear face a solenoid "I of which the armature I12 (normally outwardly extended) isconnected by a hook I18 to any fixed part of the frame of the machine. As indicated in the electrical diagram of Fig. 18, mercury switch I85 is'in series with the line and with this solenoid "I, so that closing of switch I85 by the detection of a supply strand S on a winding unit energizes the solenoid and thereby retracts the dofiing cam 18 from the path of the dumping arm 28 of the same winding unit. Thus the supply mass S of a unit is not dotted if its formerly winding strand S extends up into the slob-catcher 8I or analogous holding means so as to be available for uniting.

It has been explained how energizing the solenoid 88 in the magazine permits the magazine to turn through a distance represented by one con.- talner 12 of a replenishment mass and how such movement brings a replenishment strand E into association with the knotter I22 and opens the trap door 85 of the appropriate container to discharge the united replenishment mass to the if the latter is present supply holder 24 of the passing unit. It is desired to accomplish these operations each time a unit passes lacking an available supply strand S and to prevent these operations at the passage of a unit on which there has been detected an avail- 8 able supply strand 8 and on which thesupply mass S has been allowed to remain because of the retraction of the dofling cam 18.

Suitable means for controlling the operation of the magazine in presenting strands to the knotter and discharging tied-in replenishment masses may include a normally open mercury' switch I (Fig. 15) in a casing I18 mounted as shown in Fig. 2 on the lower rail 2|. A rod I11, mounted on brackets I18 and I18 on the rail 2|, 5 serves to support plvotally a bent lever I88 having a horizontal lower extension I8I of which the front edge I82 is inclined so as to be forced backward. or to the left in Fig. 16, by the moving contact of a pin I84 on the lower part of a 98 passing carrier unit 22. This motion of lever I88 raises another bent lever I88 which at its axis I81 carries the mercury switch I15. Thus each passing unit tilts and closes the switch I15. This switch is in series with the line and with magazine solenoid 88, so that the magazine is actuated by means of this switch.

To prevent operation of the magazine. presentation of a replenishment strand to the knotter and discharge of a tied-in replenishment mass 38 when the passing unit already has an available supply strand, the circuit through switch I18 and solenoid 88 is made to include a mercury switch when the dofllng cam 18 is in its normal domng position. Retraction of the dofllng cam by the solenoid I1I tilts switch I85 and opens it, thereby preventing the switch I15 from energizing the magazine solenoid 88. Therefore, in case the 44) dofiing cam has been retracted to prevent dofilng a supply mass, the magazine is prevented from being actuated to perform its replenishing functions.

Mechanism for controlling strand-uniting means The illustrated machine uses one .knotter I22 as uniting means whether a supply strand 8' from the passing unit is presented to it by the branch tube 188 or a replenishment strand R a from the magazine is presented to it by rotation of the magazine 1|, and it is accordingly preferred to operate this knotter in regular sequence each time a unit passes. Suitable means for timing the operation of the knotter with relation to the relative movement between the knotter and winding units may comprise a mercury switch I85 within the casing I18 (Fig. 15) and mounted on the axis of rotation of a bent lever I88 which is raised and tilted by a bent lever I91 as the o0 latter is engaged by the pin I84 of a passing unit, in a manner similar to the actuation of switch I15. As indicated in the diagram Fig. 15, the normally open switch I85 controls the knotter-operating solenoid I82. The spaced relation between 55 the levers I88 and I91 that operate the switches I15 and I85, respectively, is such that in case the magazine moves to feed a strand to the knotter, the strand will have reached the knotter at the time the latter is operated, and the replenishment 1 mass will be discharged from the magazine at the end of the tying operation.

Summary of certain operations While the operation of the numerous cooperating features or the machine are apparent from the foregoing, certain of the cooperative functions of parts of the combined mechanism will be summarized briefly. In relation to any unit of by the assembly of strands P and S.

The mechanism is further adapted, in relation supply strand on any unit and associate it for uniting with the package of that unit.

Moreover the mechanism is adapted to assemble with the package strand of any unit a new or replenishment supply strand. In some cases merely assembling the replenishment and package strands, or the parts of the strand already on the unit, for uniting by a hand-operated knotter may be sufilcient, but in case automatic uniting of the strands either to remove imperfections, repair breaks or replenish the strand is desired, the mechanism includes competent means for either uniting operation.

The mechanism is also adapted to control the doffing of a supply mass or core in accordance with the detected condition of the strand of that mass, to control the replenishment of the supply in like manner, and to control the replenishment in accordance with whether or not the supply mass or core has been dofied.

The magazine which is associated successively with the units of the machine, is adapted to advance its several replenishment mass containers in a procession in timed relation to the relative motion between the magazine and the winding units. This advancing motion of the containers, which results in the successive discharge of their contained masses, is controlled in accordance with the detected condition of the successive supply strands on the units. During such advance of the replenishment masses in the magazine, the endsof their strands are held in such position that the advance of each replenishment strand carries it into a strand-uniting mechanism.

The means for handling the supply strands of the several units conveys an available supply strand of a winding unit into the same stranduniting mechanism and in this event the maga zine is prevented from associating a replenishment strand with the uniting mechanism; in each case a strand the winding unit, while if the old supply strand is united, its mass remains on the unit, and no new replenishment mass is delivered thereto.

In the case of uniting of the formerly winding strand of a unit to itself, a suflicient length of strand is conveyed beyond the strand-uniting mechanism to result in the removal from the strand of the imperfection which had been caught by the slub-catcher of that unit. With the strand of each unit thus repaired, or united to a replenishmcnt strand in the case of exhaustion, each unit is ready to begin winding again by the time it reaches the next winding tractor roll 01' the machine. During such continued winding the supply will normally exhaust, unless an imperfection is detected and winding thereby stopped. When the unit again is associated with the described mechanism, the unit will again be dealt with in the appropriate manner, depending upon the condition of its supply strand.

The winding operation may be started in two general Ways. If desired, the operator can place Or if the operator can place a bare core on each spindle, at the same time placing a full bobbin on each supply-holding peg 24 and making a few turns of the supply strand around the bare core to start winding. In this case, the magazine To continue operation of the machine, the

has to keep the magazine supplied, and to remove full wound packages and replace the latter with cores. If the newly supplied winding cores carry starting windings, the machine will automatically find their ends and tie them either to a supply mass on the respective winding unit or to a replenishment mass delivered thereto. If the new cores are bare, the operator can merely wrap a few turns of the supply strand around the core to prepare it for winding. One advantage of the invention is that when the operator, standing at the end of the machine, is engaged in removing full packages from the spindles,'each unit that reaches her will have on it a supply mass and strand which she can associate with the new winding core,

Modified form of mechanism for handling the supply strand Figs. 20 and 21 illustrate a modified form of suction tube I 08* intended as a substitute for the tube Hi8 of the preceding figures. As indicated, the tube I08", slotted at 3, extends down to an elongated nozzle I26 generally coextensive in height with the supply masses S on the traveling units 22. In this manner, the

Thus the nozzle I20" will take in any strand which extends up from the mass S to the slub-catcher, and also any loose or broken strand that hangs down from, or lies on the surface of the supply mass S.

In this modification the detector mechanism of Figs. 7 to 14 is replaced by any form 01' deknotter. Such modified detector may for example include a curved wire 20!! pivotally mounted at 2M on the previously described wire H5, and carrying a counterweight 203, which normally keeps the main portion of wire 2M tilted to above the level of wire H5. Whenever a strand is drawn up by the suction conduit I08" and dropped on the wire H5, it will first depress the counterweighted wire 200. A mercury switch I, mounted on this wire 200 is open in like normal tilted position 'of the wire, but closes means in cooperative relation to the several when the wire is depressed by a strand. As indicated in the electrical diagram of Fig. 18, the switch I65 occupies the same relation to the remainder of the circuit as the previously described switch I65, of Figs. 7 to 14.

We claim:

1. In combination in a textile machine having therein means acting to wind a strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, a holder for the supply mass being unwound, a stranduniting means, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the package, means operative after breakage oi the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the supply mass held by the said holder, and means for operating the uniting means to unite the ends of the formerly winding strand.

2. In combination in a textile machine havin! therein means acting to wind a strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, a holder for the supply mass being unwound, means for inducing breakage of the strand upon the occurrence-of an imperfection therein, a stranduriting means, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the package, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the supply mass held by the said holder, and means for operating the uniting means to unite the ends of the formerly winding strand.

3. A textile machine having therein a plurality of winding units each including holders for a winding package and for an unwinding supply mass, mechanism for automatically repairing a break in the winding strand which normally extends from the supply mass to the winding package of a unit by joining the broken ends of said strand together, said repairing mechanism comprising a strand-uniting means, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the package, means operative after breakage of the strandv to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the supply mass held by the said holder, means for causing a relative movement between the plurality of winding units and said mechanism to permit said machanism to operate on the strands of the units successively, and means for operating the uniting means to unite the ends of the formerly winding strands of the several units.

4. A textile machine having therein a plurality of winding units each adapts. to wind a strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, and including a holder for the unwinding supply mass, means operative with relation to the several strands substantially constantly throughout the winding thereof to break the continuity of any winding strand in which a slub appears, a stranduniting means, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the package, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end'of strand that is attached to the supply mass held by the said holder, means for operating the uniting means'to unite the ends of the formerly winding strand and means operative to dispose the strand-uniting means and strand-associating units successively.

5. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each comprising winding means operative to wind from a supply mass onto a winding package, and including a holder for the unwinding supply strand mass, means for moving said units in a procession, means on each unit for inducing breakage of the strand upon the occurrence of an imperfection therein, the machine including a strand-uniting means, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the package, means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of the strand that is attached to the supply mass held by said holder,, and means for operating the uniting means to unite the ends of the formerly winding strand.

6. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each adapted to wind strand material from its own individual supply mass onto a winding package, strand end uniting means, means operative to find the free end of the strand material forming the package and to dispose such end within the field of action of the uniting means, means operative to move the units relatively to said end-finding and uniting means thereby successively to position the units in the field of operation of such end-finding and uniting means and means operative to position the free end of strand material from the supply mass of any unit at which the continuity of the winding strand has been broken within the field of action of the uniting means.

'7. A textile machine having therein winding means constructed and arranged to wind a strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, a slub catcher adapted to hold the broken end of strand resulting from catching a slub in the running strand, end-finding means constructed and arranged to find the end of the broken strand on the winding package, end-assembling means operative to assemble the found end and the end held by the slub catcher, and end-uniting means operative to join one of said ends to the other end beyond the slub.

8. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including means for holding the supply strand mass and winding means operative to wind a strand from the supply mass onto a winding package, a slub-catcher on each unit adapted to break the winding strand at a slub, means acting on the units in succession to associate a free end of the strand material forming the winding package resulting from operation of the slub-catcher with the free end of the strand material forming the supply mass, and strand uniting means operative successively upon each assembled pair of strand ends to unile them.

9. In a winding mechanism, means acting to wind strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, a holder for the supply mass being unwound, means for inducing breakage of a running strand upon the occurrence of an imperfection therein, a strand-uniting means, pneumatic conveying means operative after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the package, pneumatic conveying means operatve after breakage of the strand to associate with the uniting means the end of strand that is attached to the supply mass held by the said holder. and

means for operating the uniting means to unite the two ends of the formerly winding strand.

10. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including means for holding a winding strand package and means for holding a supply strand mass, means for moving said units in a procession, strand uniting means past which said units move successively, end-finding means operative automatically in response to a passing unit at which the continuity of the strand material normally extending from the supply mass to the package has been broken to find the free end of the strand material of the package and to dispose said end in the field of action of the uniting means, automatically acting means operative to dispose within the field of action of the uniting means the free end of the broken strand material extending from the supply means of such unit and means for actuating the strand uniting means whereby said supply strand end is reunited to the winding strand end.

11. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including holders for a winding strand package and for a supply strand mass, means for moving said units in a procession, strand uniting means past which said units move successively, strand associating means operative automatically to assemble the free end of the strand material of the winding package with the free end of the supply package of any unit at which the continuity of the winding strand has been broken and to present said free ends in the field of action of the uniting means, strand associating means operative automatically to assemble the free end of a replenishment strand mass with the free end of the strand material of the winding package when the supply mass is exhausted and to present said assembled end in the field of action of the uniting means, and means operative to deliver the replenishment mass, thus united to the windinf Package to the supply holder of the cor: esponding unit.

12. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each adapted to wind from a supply mass onto a winding package, package end-finding means and uniting means adapted to act on a found end, means for causing a relative movement between the cooperating end-finding and uniting means and the said units to associate said end-finding and uniting means with the units successively, means for assembling the ends of strands attached to the old supply masses of the repective units, in position to be united with the found package ends by said uniting means, means for detecting whether the supply mass ends are available in the respective units for such assembling, and means controlled by the detected condition of the supply mass ends for causing a replenishment mass to be united to the package end of any unit lacking an available old supply mass end.

13. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each comprising Winding means operative to wind strand material from a supply strand mass to form a winding package, enduniting means, means for holding a replenishment strand mass, end-finding means operative to find the free end of the strand material of the winding package at any unit at which the continuity of the winding strand has been broken and to dispose said free end in the field of action of the uniting means, and end assembly means operative to dispose the free end of a broken strand from the supply mass of said unit in the field oi action of the uniting means or, alterna tively, in the absence of said supply mass, to dispose the free end of a replenishment strand in the field of action of the uniting means.

14. A textile machine having therein means for supporting a supply strand, a mechanism for winding said strand to form a package, means for detecting breakage and exhaustion of the said strand, means for joining the free end of the strand on the winding package to the free end of a new strand when the supply strand is exhausted, and means forjoining the free ends of the strand material on the package and the strand material from the supply to each other in case the supply strand material is not ex hausted but broken.

15. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including a holder for a supply strand mass and winding means operative to wind strand material from the supply mass to form a package, means adapted to assemble the strand of a replenishment strand mass with the strand of such a suit, means for causing a relative motion between the replenishment strand-assembling means and the several units such that the replenishment strand-assembling means is adjacent to the several units in succession, and means for rendering said replenishment strandassembling means effective and ineffective in respect to individual ones of said units in accordance with the absence or presence, respectively, of supply strand material extending from the supply holder of the unit.

16. A textile machine having therein a plurality of winding units each adapted to wind a strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, means for instituting winding from new supply masses, a. strand detector, means for causing the detector to control the instituting oi winding from new supply masses, and means for causing the detector to be associated with the several units in succession.

17. A textile machine having therein means to support a supply mass, means acting to wind a strand from the supply mass onto a winding package, means for holding a broken end oi the supply strand which extends from the supply mass upon the occurrence of breakage of said strand, means for uniting the free end of a replenishment strand to the free end of strand material forming the winding package and means for preventing union of the replenishment strand to the end of the strand material forming the package so long as a supply strand end is held in said holding means.

18. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including a holder for a supply strand mass and each including winding means operative to wind strand material from the supply strand mass to form a package. means adapted to operate on the units in succession to unite the respective strands of the winding package and supply mass thereof, means for determining whether the several units have supply strand available to be thus united, and means for successively causing further strand masses to be united to the packages of any units which lack such available strand.

19. A textile machine having therein a plurality of winding units each adapted to wind a strand from a supply mass onto a winding package, each unit including a holder for the supply mass, means for moving the units in a procession, a stationary strand-uniting means, a strand mass earrier supporting a plurality of replenishment for a supply mass.

for associating the strands attached to the packages 0! said units with the strand-uniting means,

strand detecting means for controlling the movement oi the carrier and means for transferring replenishment strand masses from the carrier to the holders on said winding units.

20. A textile machine having therein a supply holder, means for winding a strand from a supply mass at said holder onto a winding package, replenishment means constructed andarranged to deliver a supply mass to the holder, and means operative to initiate the operation of said replenishment means comprising a movable part which responds only to the presence oi an end of strand material, available for union with the end of strand material forming the package, extending in a definite direction from the suriace oi! the supply mass.

21. A textile machine having therein a holder means for winding a strand from said supply mass onto a package, means for holding a broken end of a supply strand extending from the supply mass on the occurrence of breakage, means for supplying a replenishment mass to ,said holder, and means for controlling said supplying means adapted to avoid supplying a replenishment mass in case a supply strand is in said strand end-holding means.

22. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including a holder for a supply strand mass and means for winding said strand onto a package, and a slub-catcher adapted to induce breakage of the strand upon the occurrence of a slab therein, dofllng and replenishing mechanism adapted to discharge the contents of the supply holders 0! the several units in succession and to deliver replenishment strand masses thereto, means, responsive to the presence at the slub-catcher of an end of strand from the old supply mass, for preventing the occurrence of said dofling and replenishing operation in respect to the unit containing said end.

23. A winding machine, having therein a holder for a supply strand mass, means for winding from said supply mass onto a pa kage, strand uniting means adapted to unite a strand from the supply mass to a strand of the package, a suction cons veyor adapted to cooperate with the supply mass to carry an end oi strand therefrom to the uniting means, and means responsive to the failure oi a strand to be thus carried for causing a replenishment strand to be united to the package.

24. A textile machine .having therein a magazine comprising a plurality of replenishment supply containers movable to and past a delivery point in the magazine, bottom portions of the containers being adapted to open, a plurality oi strand-manipulating units each having a supply holder, means for associating at the delivery point of the magazine the successive replenishment containers and the successive supply holders of the units, and means for causing the bottom portion of the successive containers to open at said delivery point, to permit discharge thereat. J

25. In a textile machine, the combination oi an unwinding mass supply holder, a replenishment magazine adapted to deliver at a point above and laterally oflset from the supply mass holder, and an inclin chute member adapted to guide replenishment masses on the way from the magazine to the supply mass holder, said chute member being mounted for tilting movement by a replenishment mass toward the axial direction 0! a mass in said supply holder.

26. A textile machine having therein a plurality of strand-manipulating units each including a peg adapted to hold an unwinding supply mass for the unit, means i'or moving said units in a procession, a magazine including a plurality of holders for replenishment masses, means for moving the magazine holders successively into association with the passing pegs oi the units, and means ior causing said magazine holders to discharge and .drop their replenishment masses onto successive pegs.

2'1. A textile machine having therein a winding package holder, means for rotating the package in an unwinding direction, and a tube terminating in a suction nozzle located adjacent to the package during such unwinding, the mouth of said nozzle having'a width of at least a large part 01' the package length and merging with a narrow slot extending lengthwise oi the tube into which a strand from the package is adapted to run.

28. A textile machine having therein a holder for a winding package, strand-uniting means, and

means for finding an end of strand on the package and conveying it to the strand-uniting means, said end-finding and conveying means including a suction tube extending in an indirect path and having a slit adapted to permit the strand to occupy a more direct path partially free of the tube, for cooperation with the stranduniting means.

29. A textile machine having therein a plurality of winding units each including holders for winding packages and unwinding supply masses, means for moving said units in a procession, winding package end-finding means located in the path oi! the packages of said units, means for carrying the end of the iound strand to a point laterally removed from the package and there holding it from traveling with the package while the package of which the strand is a part continues to travel, and strand uniting mechanism so positioned relatively to the end-holding means and the path of the units that the bight or strand extending from the end-holding means to the package is swept by the movement of the unit into the field or operation of the uniting means.

30. A textile machine having therein stranduniting mechanism, means including a suction conduit for successively conveying the strands of winding packages to the uniting mechanism, said conduit having a slot to allow portions of the strands thus conveyed to extend free of the conduit for manipulation by said uniting mechanism, said conduit having an opening for holding a plurality of ends of strands oi replenishment masses, and means for advancing said replenishment masses to carry their thus held strands into proximity to the package strands conveyed by said conduit.

31. A textile machine having therein stranduniting mechanism, a suction conduit having an opening adapted to receive the end 01' a replenishment strand and a slot adjacent to said opening for conveying a portion of the winding package strand thereto, and means for causing the uniting mechanism to operate on the two strands.

32. A textile machine having therein a suction conduit provided with an intake opening to re- -15 ceive a strand, the conduit extending in an indirect path and having a slot permitting the strand to occupy a more direct path partially free of the tube.

33. A textile machine having therein a rotary magazine for replenishment strand masses, 9. central holder for the ends of strands of said masses, uniting mechanism to which rotation of the magazine carries the thus held strands, and a slotted suction conduit located to convey winding package strands into proximity to the replenishment strands in the magazine for uniting thereto.

34. A textile machine having therein a rotary magazine adapted to hold a plurality of replenishment strand masses, an open ended tubular holder operative simultaneously to receive and hold the free ends of the strands from all of the replenishment masses, means to create an inward draft of air into the open end of said holder thereby to retain said ends in the holder and to apply gentle tension thereto to hold said ends taut, said inward draft also acting to convey away waste portions of the strands severed therefrom.

35. A textile machine having therein a rotatable magazine including a plurality of containers for replenishment strand masses, means for rotating the magazine, means for removing the masses from the bottom of the several containers successively at a predetermined point in said rotation, and means for uniting the several masses to other strands while the masses are in said containers, said containers having slotted sides to permit the united strands to leave the magazine after tying.

36. A textile machine having therein a plural ity of units including holders for winding packages, means for moving said units in a procession, a winding tractor roll disposed along the path of travel of said units for driving the packages in a winding direction, means oneach unit for lowering and lifting the package into and out of contact with the winding roll to begin and stop winding during travel or the unit, an unwinding roll in the path of travel of the units, and means for causing the said lowering and lifting means on the several units to associate the respective package with said unwinding roll.

3'7. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units including holders for winding packages, means for moving said units in a procession, a winding tractor roll disposed along the path of travel of said units for driving the packages in a winding direction, and an end-finding device including an unwinding roll disposed in prolongation of said winding roll.

38. A textile machine comprising winding means including a holder for a winding package and a holder for a supply mass, strand uniting means and pneumatic conveyor means operative to convey free ends of strand material from the package and supply mass holder, respectively, into the field of action of the uniting means, said conveyor means comprising suction conduits leading from points adjacent to the package holder and adjacent to the supply mass holder, respectively.

m 39. A textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including means for holding a winding package, means for moving said units in a procession, a stationary strand-uniting mechanism, and means for automatically conveying a strand of a package from its unit into association with the stationary strandni ing mechanism while the said package and unit move past said mechanism, and means for operating the strand-uniting mechanism when the strand of the moving package is thus associated therewith.

40. A textile machine having therein a plurality of winding units each including a holder for an unwinding supply mass and means for drawing strand material therefrom, end-finding means operative to find the free end of the strand material constituting such a supply mass while the supply mass is located in operative position in the holder and means operative successively to bring the supply masses of the several units into the field of action of said endfinding means.

41. A textile machine having therein a holder for a supply strand mass and means for winding from a strand mass in said holder onto a package, strand-uniting mechanism, means operative to dispose the free end of the strand material constituting the winding package in the field of action of the uniting means, end-finding means operative to find the free end of the strand material constituting a supply mass while such supply mass is located within the holder, and means for disposing said found supply end in the field of action of the uniting means.

42. In combination in a textile machine comprising package winding means, a support for,

a supply mass, drive means for the package winding means operative so to actuate the latter as to unwind strand material from the supplyv mass and wind it to form a package, end associating means constructed and arranged to associate a broken end of the strand material forming the supply mass with a broken end of the strand material forming the supply package last subjected to unwinding, and end uniting means constructed and arranged to unite said associated ends.

43. In combination in a textile machine comprising winding means constructed and arranged to unwind strand material from a supply mass and wind the strand material to form a wound package, a support for a supply mass, and end associating means constructed and arranged to associate a free end of strand material forming the supply mass last subjected to unwinding with a free end of strand material forming the winding package in readiness for uniting said ends.

44. In combination in a textile machine comprising winding means constructed and arranged to unwind strand material from a supply mass and wind the strand material to form a wound package, a support for a supply mass, breakage inducing means constructed and arranged to induce breakage oi the winding strand material upon the appearance 01' an imperfection therein, and strand uniting means constructed and arranged to join the broken end 01' the material forming the supply mass last subjected to unwinding with a broken end 01' the strand material forming the winding package.

45. In combination in a textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including a holder for a supply strand mass and each including winding means operative to wind strand material from a supply strand mass to form a package, uniting means constructed and arranged to cooperate with the several units in succession, means operative to present to the strand uniting means free ends of strand material from the winding package and the supply mass, respectively, oi. any unit at which the continuity of the winding strand has been broken, and detector means operative to determine whether there remains available strand material in the supply mass holder of each unit in succession.

46. In combination in a textile machine having therein a plurality of units each including a holder for a supply strand mass and each including winding means operative to wind strand material from a supply strand mass to form a package, uniting means constructed and arranged to cooperate with the several units in succession, detector means operative to determine whether there remains available strand material in the supply mass holder of each unit in succession, and replenishment means, responsive to failure ot'the detector means to find available strand material in the supply holder of any unit, comprising devices for assembling the tree end of a replenishment strand with the free end of the strand material forming the package, and means for actuating the uniting means to unite said assembled ends.

47. A textile machine having therein a stranduniting means, a magazine adapted to hold a. plurality oi replenishment strand masses, suction means for holding the ends of strand of the several replenishment strand masses, and means for moving the replenishment strand masses to present the portions of strand extending from the strand masses to the suction means successively to the uniting means, the suction strandholding means having an opening in the nature of a slot along which the several strands are adapted to move in traveling to the uniting means.

EDWARD J. ABBOTT. JOSEPH E. RING.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No 2,177 ,7 65

October 51, 1959.

EDWARD J. ABBOTT, ET AL. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification I of the above n b patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, sec-- ond column, line 25, claim 15, for the word "suit" read unit; and that the said Letters Patent should same may conform (Seal) be read with this correction therein that the to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 5th day of December,

Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

